Workshop Recommendations

Follow-on Workshops and Participatory Modeling Events

in follow-on workshops and participatory modeling events a similar broad and well distributed diversity of stakeholders be replicated;

future participatory modeling events also apply a “goal-based design” and engage external experienced facilitators to ensure the inter-linkages between different parts of the event;

for future workshops experienced but non-expert moderation be utilized for plenary sessions, panels and group discussions;

the time that is allotted to deliberations in table discussion rounds and breakout sessions be increased so that the participants have more time to develop concrete and practical suggestions that would guide where technical, financial and human resources would be deployed in the future.

Geospace for SDGs

It is recommended that

national and international stakeholders engage in the further development of the geospace concept and support the implementation of a first such geospace in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a joint state-based and grass-roots effort;

a follow-on participatory modeling event be organized to further detail the geospace concept, information needs, and practical approaches. A core principle for the geospace is the creating of consciousness of SDGs in the population through integrated information supporting actions. Working out specific examples of how Earth observation data can support implementation of SDGs at Goal or Target levels and inform policies would be beneficial.

Follow-on Activities

It is recommended that

a pilot project be set up that tailors information products related to sargassum and oil spill monitoring and forecasting to the specific needs of the Caribbean SIDS and improves accessibility and usability of these products;

a workshop be considered that brings together stakeholders in lionfish to discuss improved monitoring, options for population control and the development of potential economic activities utilizing lionfish as a food resource;

a workshop be organized to design and develop a knowledge platform on land, water, and ocean governance and the linkage with poverty and livelihood sustenance;

a template be developed for a “Country Status Report” considering the specific challenges of SIDS and to ask the governments of the Caribbean SIDS to prepare these reports for further analysis to improve the science, earth observation and knowledge support they need to achieve the SDGs in their country;

the synergies among SDGs be further explored via evidence-based examples (positive and negative);

relevant partner join in an effort of developing a feedback tool for knowledge-sharing concerning implementation efforts and solutions as a means to support capacity building;

best practices be established of how GEO Members are reporting against the SDGs (which ministries, what process, how tier elevation works) and how the GEO community can support SIDS in meeting the reporting requirements that depend on utilizing Earth observations;

those issues be identified where immediate Earth-observation support is needed in the SIDS, including issues such as maritime security;

a strategic plan be developed for an increased engagement of the Caribbean scientific community in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs.